Background to Othello

TERMS TO KNOW

Important Dramatic Terms

Tragedy—a drama of a solemn and dignified quality that typically depicts the development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force, such as fate, circumstance, or society, and reaches a mournful or ruinous conclusion.

OthelloOthello – A Shakespearean – A Shakespearean TragedyTragedy

OthelloOthello is a Shakespearean Tragedy is a Shakespearean Tragedy It encompasses elements of tragedies such It encompasses elements of tragedies such

as:as: It ends with the death of numerous characters It ends with the death of numerous characters

including the title characterincluding the title character The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the

audience able to understand and sympathise with audience able to understand and sympathise with the character.the character.

The protagonist is capable of both good and evilThe protagonist is capable of both good and evil Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must

always be able to back out of a situation or to always be able to back out of a situation or to redeem themselves – but always towards their redeem themselves – but always towards their inevitable doom.inevitable doom.

Important Dramatic Terms

Tragic flaw—a defect in the protagonist that brings about his or her downfall.

Hubris: derived from the Greek word hybris, means “excessive pride.” In Greek tragedy, hubris is often viewed as the flaw that leads to the downfall of the tragic hero.

Important Dramatic Terms

Tragic hero: the main character of great importance to his state or culture and who is conventionally of noble birth and high social station, the ruler or an important leader in his society.

The moral health of the state is identified with, and dependent on, that of its ruler, and so the tragic hero’s story is also that of his state.

Important Dramatic Terms

Such heroes are mixed characters, neither thoroughly good or thoroughly evil, yet “better” or “greater” than the rest of us in the sense that they are of higher than ordinary moral worth and social significance.

THE SETTING

Setting

Setting (time) · Late sixteenth century, during the wars between Venice and Turkey

Setting (place) · Venice in Act I; the island of Cyprus thereafter

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcitaly.htm

http://geography.about.com/library/cia/nccyprus.htm

Cyprus is located east of Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is just south of Turkey.

THE CHARACTERS

Types of People in Othello

VenetiansMost are noblemen and women

(Brabantio, Desdemona, Roderigo)Also, there are the nobles’

servants (Emilia)Some are soldiers (Cassio, Iago)Others are part of Venetian

government (the Duke)

Types of People (cont’d)

Moors (Othello)Black nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa, originally the inhabitants of Mauretania

Converted to Islam in the 8th century

Moors (cont’d)

Invaded Spain in 711 and dominated until the 11th century

had great dynasties up until 1492, when the last of their cities was conquered by Spain

virtually exterminated by Spain during the Inquisition (late 1400s-1820)

Moors (cont’d)

Othello is a MoorDiscriminated against because of his

race (black) Othello has been accepted in some ways

because he is a Christian and a military genius

Yet his marriage to Desdemona reflects the prevailing view toward interracial marriage.

IagoIago Iago is one of Iago is one of

Shakespeare’s most Shakespeare’s most sinister villains, often sinister villains, often considered so because of considered so because of the unique trust Othello the unique trust Othello puts in him, which he puts in him, which he betrays while maintaining betrays while maintaining his reputation of honesty his reputation of honesty and dedication.and dedication.

Shakespeare contrasts Shakespeare contrasts Iago with Othello’s nobility Iago with Othello’s nobility and integrity.and integrity.

Iago is a Iago is a malcontentmalcontent – he – he has a bitter and cyncial has a bitter and cyncial view of the world around view of the world around him.him.

The name Iago is a The name Iago is a shortened version of the shortened version of the Spanish name “Santiago” Spanish name “Santiago” or “St James”. or “St James”.

Saint James of Spain was Saint James of Spain was also known as “St James also known as “St James the Moor Killer” which the Moor Killer” which seems appropriate within seems appropriate within the play.the play.

THE CULTURE OF THE TIME

The Wife’s StatusThe Wife’s Status

A typical wife receiving her A typical wife receiving her instructioninstruction

The husband, in The husband, in the accepted role the accepted role as head of the as head of the household, gives household, gives moral direction to moral direction to his wife and his wife and children--who sit children--who sit obediently obediently listening. listening.

Evil Women!Evil Women!The men in “Othello” The men in “Othello” have differing views of have differing views of women – from Othello women – from Othello who idolizes his wife who idolizes his wife (Desdemona) to Iago (Desdemona) to Iago who sees love as who sees love as "merely a lust of the "merely a lust of the blood and a blood and a permission of the permission of the will“.will“.The attitudes of the The attitudes of the audience at the time audience at the time are likely to have been are likely to have been varied too.varied too.

In the Elizabethan In the Elizabethan times there was a long times there was a long and well established and well established tradition in the Church tradition in the Church of what we would now of what we would now call misogyny – women call misogyny – women were distrusted simply were distrusted simply because they were because they were women. At the time it women. At the time it was assumed that was assumed that women would cheat – women would cheat – it was part of their it was part of their nature!nature!

The CuckoldThe Cuckold

Any man whose wife Any man whose wife cheated on him (without cheated on him (without his knowledge) was his knowledge) was known as a cuckold.known as a cuckold.The word derives from The word derives from “cuckoo” – the bird “cuckoo” – the bird known for laying their known for laying their eggs in another’s nest.eggs in another’s nest.

It was highly undesirable It was highly undesirable to be considered a to be considered a cuckold.cuckold.

All of the community All of the community would find out about it would find out about it and it was considered a and it was considered a public humiliation.public humiliation.

Cuckolds were often Cuckolds were often described as having described as having horns – a hangover horns – a hangover from the days when a from the days when a cuckold was forced to cuckold was forced to parade around his town parade around his town wearing antlers as a wearing antlers as a sign of his wife’s sign of his wife’s infidelity.infidelity.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT

JealousyJealousy

Jealousy was viewed as something irrational Jealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked to the deadly sin of envy.and linked to the deadly sin of envy.

It was viewed as a sudden infection against It was viewed as a sudden infection against which there was no prevention or cure.which there was no prevention or cure.

It was thought of as eroding trust and it It was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bonds holding together dissolved the bonds holding together marriages, families and social frameworks.marriages, families and social frameworks.

Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a state greatly feared by it was a state greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.Shakespeare’s audiences.

TaskTask

On the following slide are some lines On the following slide are some lines spoken by, or about, various spoken by, or about, various characters in the play – consider characters in the play – consider what you think each quotation what you think each quotation reveals about the person reveals about the person speaking/being spoken about and speaking/being spoken about and what they are like as a character.what they are like as a character.

1)1) Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and purposes”pride and purposes”

2)2) Iago - speaking about his relationship Iago - speaking about his relationship with Othello: “I follow him to serve my with Othello: “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”turn upon him”

3)3) Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not what I am”.what I am”.

4)4) Othello - speaking about himself: “My Othello - speaking about himself: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly”manifest me rightly”

5)5) Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of honesty and trust”.honesty and trust”.

Quotations on Deception – Do Quotations on Deception – Do you agree?you agree?

““We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.” ”

““Deception is a cruel act... It often has many Deception is a cruel act... It often has many players on different stages that corrode the players on different stages that corrode the

soul.” soul.”

““IIt's better to get something worthwhile done t's better to get something worthwhile done using using deceptiondeception than to fail to get than to fail to get

something worthwhile done using truth.”something worthwhile done using truth.”

““Truth lives on in the midst of Truth lives on in the midst of deceptiondeception” ”

Today’s society - TASKToday’s society - TASK

Think about the Think about the cultural rules that you cultural rules that you live by.live by.

Look at the questions Look at the questions to the right and to the right and discuss/be sure to discuss/be sure to make notes.make notes.

What rules dictate the What rules dictate the behaviour of young men behaviour of young men and women in and women in relationships today?relationships today?

What are the things What are the things “nice girls” just don’t “nice girls” just don’t do?do?

What are the things What are the things “nice boys” just don’t “nice boys” just don’t do?do?

What do you think the What do you think the consequences are of consequences are of breaking these rules?breaking these rules?